Chapter 10
Next Stop Nottingham
Ashley and Jessica
They had just under an hour to purchase their tickets and locate the track, which included visiting the magical gate.
Once they boarded the train, Ashley and Jessica’s journey took them northward through the countryside, through stretches of green fields, small villages, and groves of trees.
Glimpses of England’s pastoral landscape were easily viewed through wide windows as the train sped smoothly along the tracks.
Once again Jessica moved into her tourist mode, pointing out picturesque sights during their relaxing one-hour ride.
As the train slowly glided into Cambridge station, the platform bustled with travelers, students, and locals, weaving between the Victorian-era columns and modern signage. Bicycles were lined up in neat rows just beyond the station’s doors.
Jessica and Ashley gathered their belongings and stepped out into the clean, crisp air. Before them stood the iconic redbrick facade, the welcoming gateway to a new adventure.
They hailed a cab, which brought them to their hotel in Cambridge’s city center, just a few blocks from King’s College Chapel and Trinity College. Ashley had no particular destination in mind, which made the hotel very convenient to wander about the college and the village.
After they checked into their room, Ashley suggested they walk to the famous chapel and grab a bite to eat somewhere along the way. They asked the clerk for some recommendations for lunch and then walked in the direction of the chapel.
The sun was bright and warmed the cool air. They decided to stop at a café with outdoor seating, an excellent way to people watch. The menu consisted of sandwiches made from roasted meat, hand-held meat pies, and the mandatory fish and chips.
While they waited for their lunch they sipped on tea and discussed the rest of their journey. Ashley opened the map of Cambridge and made a mark indicating where their hotel was and circled the chapel and some other landmarks.
As they were chatting, a handsome young man on a bicycle stopped short in front of them.
“Emily!” he called out. An odd expression appeared on his face. “Yer hair! You’ve lobbed it off.”
Blair was confused. Why Emily didn’t tell him she was staying another day, and that she planned on getting her hair cut? Not that it was any of his business, but they spent the afternoon together and had dinner just the day before.
Ashley looked at him as if he were batty. “I’m sorry. I don’t believe we’ve met.”
The young man dismounted from his bicycle and approached them slowly. He cocked his head from one side to another. “Blimey. You are the spitting image of a good friend of mine. Seriously, the spitting image.”
Ashley smiled at the bewildered young man. “They say everyone has a photo-double, or a doppelg?nger.”
“I suppose, but the resemblance is uncanny.” He shrugged. “Terribly sorry to have bothered you.”
“No bother.” Ashley continued to smile.
He noticed the map. “Visiting, are ye?”
“Yes. My mother and I are doing a little tour of England before I start my studies.” She lowered her voice. “Don’t tell anyone, but I’ll be attending Oxford and—”
“Oxford, eh?” He leaned in. “Ye best not say that too loud around here.” He pretended he was looking over each of his shoulders then lowered his voice. “Seriously. A centuries-old rivalry.” He said with a slightly devilish grin.
Ashley replied in a similar colluding whisper, “That’s why we’re here. I wanted to get a glimpse of the competition.”
“Yer looking at one of them.” He raised an eyebrow.
“You’re a student here, I presume?” Ashley asked.
“You have presumed correctly.”
Ashley smirked. “It was a good guess.”
“Where are you off to after Cambridge, if ye don’t mind me asking.”
“Nottingham is our next stop. I simply must see Sherwood Forest,” Ashley added. “I read so many tales of Robin Hood when I was a young girl.”
“And I want to see Nottingham Castle,” Jessica said.
“Two exceptionally good places to visit. You will thoroughly get the feel of merry-old-England.” He continued, “While you’re here, I highly recommend the Cambridge Christmas market.
It’s chock-full of artisan stalls, food vendors, shops, and amusements, including the Big Wheel.
You can see for miles at the top. Rather spectacular. ”
Jessica blanched. “You Brits have a thing for Ferris wheels?”
“Ah, you must have seen the London Eye.”
“Yes. Quite impressive,” Jessica replied.
“However, I declined the experience this time around. Perhaps when we return.” Jessica wanted to sound polite but had absolutely no intention of going any higher than the floor of her hotel when they returned to London.
She decided it would be spectacular enough for her jelly legs without being suspended in a pod on a wheel, very high above the ground.
The waitress brought their lunch and set it on the table. The young man apologized once again. “Terribly sorry to have bothered you.”
“No bother. Have a wonderful day,” Jessica reiterated.
“Cheers! Happy Christmas and safe travels!” The young man hopped back on his bike, waved, and pedaled away.
“That was rather odd, don’t you think?” Jessica said to Ashley as she dipped her roast beef sandwich into au jus.
“Very. But he seemed nice.”
“Yes. And quite handsome too.”
Ashley thought for a moment. “Yes, he reminded me of that young Australian actor, Jacob Elordi. He was in the series Euphoria, and now he’s playing the creature in the new adaptation of Frankenstein.”
“Another adaptation?”
“Uh-huh. Quite remarkable, actually.” Ashley paused from her delicious meat pie and wiped her hands. “The classic series had eight films, and the creature has appeared in over 435 films and television shows.”
“I had no idea you were a Frankenstein aficionado.”
“Mary Shelley. Did you know she was eighteen years old when she began writing it? It was the result of a ghost story challenge, suggested by Lord Byron. She and a few others, including Byron, were in Switzerland during some summer storms and had to find something to keep themselves entertained. The game caused her to have nightmares, and voilà!”
“So, this is what you study?” Jessica asked.
“Some of it.” Ashley took another bite, then continued.
“Dracula was written in 1897, so you could say Mary Shelley wrote the first science fiction story, although it’s considered horror.
At the same time Shelley was writing, Edgar Allan Poe was creating more gothic stories and poems across the pond.
One could say the nineteenth century was the beginning of gothic horror, which continues to grow as a genre. ”
“And this is why I call you my genius daughter.”
After they finished their lunch, they walked the several blocks to the Christmas market where Jessica found several items to add to her ornament collection.
When Blair reached his destination he eased his bike into a stand and pulled out his phone.
“Em?” he asked.
“Blair? What’s up?” Emily was finishing her packing and was surprised to hear from him so soon.
“You are not going to believe this, but I just met a woman who looks exactly like you, and I do mean exactly. If I didn’t know better, I’d swear you were twins.”
The other end of the line went silent.
“Emily? Still there?”
Emily could barely catch her breath, then began hurling questions at him. “Where were they? Did they say where they were going? Did they mention their names? Were they Americans?” She was out of breath.
Blair could hear the frenzy in her voice. “Emily, please. Steady on. Take a breath.” He waited a beat. “They were at the Bread and Meat café. I didn’t get their names, but they are from the States and are planning to go to Nottingham.”
“When?”
“I didn’t think to ask. It was simply a chance meeting.”
“I don’t suppose they mentioned where they were staying?” she asked breathlessly.
“No. Emily, what is this about? You sound quite distressed.” Blair was utterly confused at her reaction.
He heard her take a deep inhale, then she began to explain. “Blair, there is something else I should have told you.”
“Do you have time for a coffee?” he asked kindly.
“Yes. Yes, I do. Meet me in ten.” She hurriedly ended the call and slunk to the floor.
Her mind was racing a mile a minute. Who is she?
Could she be Ashley? Here? Why? Why now?
She thought about her train to Birmingham.
That would have to wait another day. Should I go to Nottingham instead?
But when? Tomorrow? She took a few more deep breaths.
“Steady on,” she said out loud. She pulled on a sweater, mittens, and a cap, ran down the steps and to the café.
Blair rode up on his bike at the same time she arrived.
“Emily. Are you alright?” He hopped off and leaned it against a post. Emily was visibly shaken and grabbed both of his sleeves.
Blair placed his hands on her arms and guided her inside.
He pulled out a chair and gently edged her into the seat.
Rather than sit across the table, he pulled his chair over so they were knee to knee.
He was genuinely concerned for her. “Tell me. What has you so rattled?”
She was gulping air as she tried to quell the shaking of her hands. She calmed herself and slowly began to explain how she discovered she was a twin and the circumstances that separated her from her sister. “You must think my family is awful.” She buried her face in her hands.
Blair placed his hands on her knees. “I haven’t met them yet, so it’s too soon for me to judge.
” He attempted to chuckle. “I am sure your parents believed they were doing the right thing at the time. And I also understand why they would want to shield you from a very painful decision they made. Bear in mind that they were able to care for you in a way that was important, with a roof over your head, warm dinners, clean linens. And now you are a research fellow at Cambridge. Something had to have gone right.”